Surrounded by his family and supporters, New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu addresses the crowd in a Hyatt hotel ballroom following his re-election Saturday night. (Zach Brien for UptownMessenger.com)

(image via Secretary of State’s office)

Mitch Landrieu easily won re-election to a second term as mayor of New Orleans over his two challengers Saturday night with 64 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results.

Judge Michael Bagneris took 33 percent of the vote, and NAACP New Orleans Branch President Danatus King took 3 percent.

Turnout in the race was 34.5 percent with all voting precincts reporting, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu pumps his fist in the air in celebration of his re-election, flanked by state Reps. Helena Moreno and Walt Leger and District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro. (Zach Brien for UptownMessenger.com)

SAD, the voting record of US citizens. Only 22% of eligible voters actually voiced their preference for Landrieu.

This is not meant to cast doubt on the validity of the results; rather, it is a shame that 66% of Americans, in general, let others make decisions for them with regard to governance. Why are we doing this to ourselves?